National Ballet of China breaks down barriers in U.S.-China cultural exchange

CCTV News

The famed National Ballet of China traveled to New York City this past week to bridge the Sino-US cultural gap through dance. CCTV America’s Liling Tan reports from New York.

National Ballet of China breaks down barries in U.S.-China cultural exchange

National Ballet of China breaks down barries in U.S.-China cultural exchange

The famed National Ballet of China traveled to New York City this past week to bridge the Sino-US cultural gap through dance. CCTV America's Liling Tan reports from New York.

Instead of staging major ballet performances as it has done in the past, the ballet company was at major U.S. universities for an 11-day cultural exchange to offer an in-depth look at how it combines Chinese elements with a traditionally western art form.

The famous ballet troupe — led by renowned Chinese artiste and former prima ballerina Feng Ying — conducted master classes at New York University and Columbia University, in which they demonstrated their adapted version of “The Nutcracker.”

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Organized by the China Institute in New York, the visit provides a rare opportunity for Americans to learn about the history of the national dance troupe, and its ever-growing range.

“When we think about the overall relationship between China and America, it goes up and down,” China Institute President James Heimowitz, said. “It’s so important to keep the channels of communication open and foster an environment where we can more deeply appreciate each other, not just from what’s happening in that moment on the political side, or the military side, but in a deep people-to-people level.”